Jabra shocked the world (OK, maybe just me) in 2018 when it unveiled the Elite 65t true-wireless earbuds. Those headphones quickly shot to the top of a lot of "best of" lists, including a couple of Engadget Buyers Guides. The Elite 65t have dependable controls, solid audio and cost less than much of the competition. For 2019, Jabra is tackling over-ear noise-canceling headphones with the Elite 85h. However, no matter how good they are, they're not as good of a deal at $300.
Gallery: Jabra Elite 85h headphones review | 17 Photos
Gallery: Jabra Elite 85h headphones review | 17 Photos
Jabra Elite 85h
Pros
- Insane battery life
- Custom EQ and ANC modes
- Simple and reliable controls
- Better design than some of the competition
Cons
- Cloth surfaces collect dust and debris
- Solid audio but not outstanding
- Not as good a value as the Elite 65t was
The world of noise-canceling headphones was dominated by Bose for years. It had the best noise-canceling technology, even if most of us weren't enamored with the company's design choices. Then Sony introduced the 1000X line in 2016, a set of headphones that rivaled the Bose QuietComfort 35 (now QC35 II) in terms of blocking out sound but also delivered high-quality audio. Other companies have caught up to Bose too, and the field is increasingly crowded with legitimate contenders.
Like Sony, Jabra definitely offers a better design on the Elite 85h than the Bose QC35 II. Jabra's latest headphones don't look cheap, even though there was plenty of plastic used to make them. The headband and the outside of the earcups are fabric, which is a nice tactile change from many flagship models. It's a canvas-like material that matches the color of the Elite 85h. But it does have one downside: If you leave them out of the case, dust and other debris stick to it noticeably more than the typical plastic or leather. Those can be easily wiped off, and that's not the case on the Elite 85h.
Under the headband is soft, cushiony leather-like material that contributes to stellar comfort. And the portion of the headband that retracts when you adjust it is painted to look like metal. Again, this looks much better than colored plastic, even if it isn't the real thing. The insides of the earcups are also wrapped in leatherette and cushion your head without being too soft you feel the plastic behind them. In other words, they're comfy but still provide adequate support. At 10.4 ounces, the Elite 85h is 2.1 ounces heavier than the QC35 II and 1.5 ounces heavier than Sony's 1000XM3.
Like many over-ear headphones, the earcups on the Jabra Elite 85h rotate flat and fold in for easy storage. That folding motion is also how you turn them on and off, which was super-confusing to start. I spent a few minutes looking for a power switch to turn the headphones off. They automatically came on when I unpacked them and spun the earcups into the proper listening position, so getting started wasn't a problem. Yes, I could've read the directions first, but what's the fun in that?
Most of the controls are on the outside of the right earcup. Here, you'll find three buttons: one in the center for play/pause and receiving calls with one above and one below for volume and skipping tracks. A single press on the two secondary buttons adjusts the volume while a long press skips tracks. A long press on the center button will put the headphones in pairing mode, and if they're already unfolded, it will turn them on. You need that in the event you let the Elite 85h go into sleep mode. There are two more buttons on the rim of each earcup, in the same spot on each side.
On the right, that button activates your virtual assistant with a single press or mutes the microphone during calls with a long press. The 3.5mm jack and USB-C port are located beside this button. On the left earcup, a single press switches between ANC on (active noise cancellation), ANC off and hear-through/transparency modes. With a long press, you can select what Jabra calls "Moments" inside its Sound+ companion app.
